Kinston man, son, win $1 million Powerball prize

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Christopher Rouse, left, of Pitt County, and his father Leslie Rouse of the Kinston area hold a check for their combined $1 million Powerball prize Thursday at the N.C. Education Lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

Photo courtesy N.C. Education Lottery

By David Anderson, Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 10:53 PM.

A Kinston-area farmer and his son did not win the record $587.5 million jackpot in Wednesday’s nationwide Powerball drawing — they did win the next-best prize, though.

Leslie Rouse and his son Christopher — who lives in Pitt County — purchased a Powerball ticket at the Kangaroo Express on U.S. 258 North. The ticket had five of six matching numbers, which qualified them for a $1 million runner-up prize.

“This was Chris’ first ever Powerball ticket,” Leslie Rouse stated in a Thursday news release from the N.C. Education Lottery. “I bought tickets and handed him one and told him if we win, then we split it.”

A Kinston-area farmer and his son did not win the record $587.5 million jackpot in Wednesday’s nationwide Powerball drawing — they did win the next-best prize, though.

Leslie Rouse and his son Christopher — who lives in Pitt County — purchased a Powerball ticket at the Kangaroo Express on U.S. 258 North. The ticket had five of six matching numbers, which qualified them for a $1 million runner-up prize.

“This was Chris’ first ever Powerball ticket,” Leslie Rouse stated in a Thursday news release from the N.C. Education Lottery. “I bought tickets and handed him one and told him if we win, then we split it.”

“I called (my father) and asked him what it means if I get five numbers in a row,” Rouse stated. “He didn’t believe me.”

The odds of winning $1 million were 1 in 5.1 million. The Kinston ticket was one of three winning $1 million tickets sold in North Carolina. The other tickets were sold in Burlington and Charlotte.

The Rouses were the first to claim their $1 million prize Thursday. Winners have 180 days to claim their prizes.

Father and son each received $500,000, which was whittled down to $340,000 after state and federal taxes were withheld. The checks were presented Thursday at Lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

“Being a farmer, I have acquired quite a few bills,” Leslie Rouse stated. “This money will help take a lot off of us. I also have kids in school to take care of. The rest I’m going to invest and put away.”

Lottery officials stated more than $2.58 billion has been raised for North Carolina education programs through ticket sales for Powerball and other contests.

More than $16.2 million has gone to Lenoir County education since the Lottery began in 2005.

The Rouses could not be reached for comment to The Free Press Thursday, and staff at the Kangaroo declined to comment.

Staff Writers Jessika Morgan and Wes Wolfe contributed to this report. David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.